It is reported that the Iranian sculptor, Jamshid Moradian, will visit Italy to take part in the third Symposium of Mountains and the Winter Olympic Games.
He will create the symbol for the Winter Olympic Games 2005, known as the "Olympic Flower".
The design depicts a rock from which five olive leaves, representing the 5 continents, protrude. Each of the leaves has a ring of the Olympics emerging from below.
The artistic work will be carved onto the mountain, and will be illuminated by lamps.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Judge Loses Place
It is reported that George Beckstead, the US judge involved in the scoring mistake that helped Paul Hamm win the gymnastics gold medal at the Athens Olympics, has lost his place on the committee of the gymnastics' world governing body.
Beckstead was not re-elected to the men's technical committee of the international gymnastics federation.
Beckstead was not re-elected to the men's technical committee of the international gymnastics federation.
Friday, October 22, 2004
Hamm Breaths Sigh of Relief
It is reported that U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm will keep his gymnastic gold medal from the Athens Olympics, despite the protest from a South Korean competitor.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected the request by Yang Tae Young to award him the gold. Yang Tae Young based his claim on the judges making a 10th-of-a-point mistake, that gymnastics officials said cost him the title.
The court statement said:
"An error identified with the benefit of hindsight whether admitted or not, cannot be a ground for reversing a result of a competition...".
I agree, judging sports will always be prone to human error; that's life.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected the request by Yang Tae Young to award him the gold. Yang Tae Young based his claim on the judges making a 10th-of-a-point mistake, that gymnastics officials said cost him the title.
The court statement said:
"An error identified with the benefit of hindsight whether admitted or not, cannot be a ground for reversing a result of a competition...".
I agree, judging sports will always be prone to human error; that's life.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
The Mafia and The Olympics
Yesterday's story about the attempted murder of Filippos Sirigos, sports editor of the newspaper Eleftherotypia, looks like being the thin end of the wedge of a very nasty affair.
It seems that Sirigos was not just unpopular for reporting on the case of the "dynamic duo" of sprinting's, Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, lame attempt to hide from a drugs test; by staging a fake motorcycle accident.
He was also reporting on the Octagon scandal (reported on this site some weeks ago); which involves the head of the Athens Games, Gianna Angelopoulos, and her husband.
This story alleges that $450M, originally intended for the Games, has been stolen by these two; using Octagon to syphon the money into various hidden bank accounts.
Gianna Angelopoulos and her husband are suing Sirigos for Euros10m in compensation.
There are strong rumours of Mafia involvement; specifically there is a suspect deal that gave the Karaiskaki soccer stadium to a company belonging to an alleged Mafia boss Sokratis Kokkalisso, who is also involved with Octagon.
So much for the Olympics cleaning up its act!
It seems that Sirigos was not just unpopular for reporting on the case of the "dynamic duo" of sprinting's, Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, lame attempt to hide from a drugs test; by staging a fake motorcycle accident.
He was also reporting on the Octagon scandal (reported on this site some weeks ago); which involves the head of the Athens Games, Gianna Angelopoulos, and her husband.
This story alleges that $450M, originally intended for the Games, has been stolen by these two; using Octagon to syphon the money into various hidden bank accounts.
Gianna Angelopoulos and her husband are suing Sirigos for Euros10m in compensation.
There are strong rumours of Mafia involvement; specifically there is a suspect deal that gave the Karaiskaki soccer stadium to a company belonging to an alleged Mafia boss Sokratis Kokkalisso, who is also involved with Octagon.
So much for the Olympics cleaning up its act!
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Decision Day
Today is the day that Greek prosecutors announce their findings into the scandal involving the dynamic duo of Greek sprinting, Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou
You will recall that these were the two idiots who avoided a drugs test, by faking a motorcycle accident.
Interestingly enough one of the main witnesses, sports editor Filippos Sirigos, has been stabbed and beaten. Gas canisters and petrol were also sent to the owner of the newspaper that Sirigos works for.
Seemingly some people don't like the truth to come out.
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has condemned the attack, noting that it could damage Greece's reputation.
What's the betting that the dynamic duo get let off with a very light sentence?
You will recall that these were the two idiots who avoided a drugs test, by faking a motorcycle accident.
Interestingly enough one of the main witnesses, sports editor Filippos Sirigos, has been stabbed and beaten. Gas canisters and petrol were also sent to the owner of the newspaper that Sirigos works for.
Seemingly some people don't like the truth to come out.
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has condemned the attack, noting that it could damage Greece's reputation.
What's the betting that the dynamic duo get let off with a very light sentence?
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
High Tech Games
The 2008 Olympic Games, being held in Beijing, promise to push the frontiers of technology.
The Beijing Olympic Games organisers are going to complete 116 technology projects, in time for the 2008 Games.
The projects will covers TV, telecom and architecture.
On site broadcasting, and on site wireless communication feature heavily in the projects.
The Beijing Olympic Games organisers are going to complete 116 technology projects, in time for the 2008 Games.
The projects will covers TV, telecom and architecture.
On site broadcasting, and on site wireless communication feature heavily in the projects.
Monday, October 18, 2004
London Parade
London will be hosting a parade today, for the British athletes who competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Once the parade is over, the athletes will meet the Queen.
Once the parade is over, the athletes will meet the Queen.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Cooking Olympics
The Gastric Olympics start today in Germany.
Competition between the world's leading culinary "athletes" will be fierce, as they compete to see who can cook the best.
Competition between the world's leading culinary "athletes" will be fierce, as they compete to see who can cook the best.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Apologies
Hungarian Olympic Committee chairman, Pal Schmitt, apologised yesterday for the doping incidents at the Athens Olympics involving his country's athletes.
He said that he was sorry that Hungarian athletes had cast a shadow over the Athens Games, with their doping infractions.
Three Hungarians lost their medals in Athens because of doping: hammer throw winner Adrian Annus, discus gold medalist Robert Fazekas and weightlifter Ferenc Gyurkovics, who won a silver. Two other weightlifters, Zoltan Kovacs and Zoltan Kecskes, also tested positive.
He said that he was sorry that Hungarian athletes had cast a shadow over the Athens Games, with their doping infractions.
Three Hungarians lost their medals in Athens because of doping: hammer throw winner Adrian Annus, discus gold medalist Robert Fazekas and weightlifter Ferenc Gyurkovics, who won a silver. Two other weightlifters, Zoltan Kovacs and Zoltan Kecskes, also tested positive.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Bomb Threat
Greek police disclosed yesterday that they had received a bomb threat, before the Athens Olympic Games opening ceremony.
However, despite that fact that the stadium had 70000 people inside, they did not evacuate it.
The bomb scare was no more than that, a hoax.
The police received more than 80 other bomb threats during the course of the Games.
However, despite that fact that the stadium had 70000 people inside, they did not evacuate it.
The bomb scare was no more than that, a hoax.
The police received more than 80 other bomb threats during the course of the Games.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Terror Scares
Yesterday Greece released a list of the top 86 security scares, during the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Topping the list was a propane leak at a seaside resort, housing America's leading business executives.
The minister of public order, George Voulgarakis, noted at the news conference that there was a very real threat that the use of a mobile phone would have resulted in a large explosion at the resort.
Topping the list was a propane leak at a seaside resort, housing America's leading business executives.
The minister of public order, George Voulgarakis, noted at the news conference that there was a very real threat that the use of a mobile phone would have resulted in a large explosion at the resort.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Zeppelin Flies Away
The 60 metre Olympics Zeppelin which was laden with cameras and sensors, and became a daily feature of the Athens skyline during the Olympics, has moved on.
Information collected by the Zeppelin was used together with images from the 1,200 street cameras, police helicopters and surveillance vans; as part of the US$1.5BN security operation. The operation officially ended on October 4.
The Zeppelin, which is operated by Airship Management Services Inc, stayed on a few extra days; while the company discussed potential future business deals.
These include possibly providing security at the Beijing Games in 2008, watching over the Muslim pilgrimage at Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, and filming Greek holiday destinations for the Greek tourism ministry.
Information collected by the Zeppelin was used together with images from the 1,200 street cameras, police helicopters and surveillance vans; as part of the US$1.5BN security operation. The operation officially ended on October 4.
The Zeppelin, which is operated by Airship Management Services Inc, stayed on a few extra days; while the company discussed potential future business deals.
These include possibly providing security at the Beijing Games in 2008, watching over the Muslim pilgrimage at Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, and filming Greek holiday destinations for the Greek tourism ministry.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Even Horses Do Drugs
It seems that some "athletes" will stop at nothing to win a glittery medal at the Olympics.
It is reported that Irish show jumper Cian O'Connor, who won gold at Athens, has had his horse tested for drugs.
The poor horse, who is totally blameless, was found to be doped with a banned substance.
O'Connor claims that he is innocent and that the second sample, when tested, will show that he is innocent.
The horse, Waterford Crystal, declined to comment.
It is reported that Irish show jumper Cian O'Connor, who won gold at Athens, has had his horse tested for drugs.
The poor horse, who is totally blameless, was found to be doped with a banned substance.
O'Connor claims that he is innocent and that the second sample, when tested, will show that he is innocent.
The horse, Waterford Crystal, declined to comment.
Monday, October 11, 2004
A Cleaner Olympics
It is reported that the China Petrochemical Corporation has been named as an official sponsor of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
It has promised to clean up its fuel, in order to meet the pre-Games anti-pollution standards.
The company will fund and provide petrochemical products and services for the 2008 Olympic Games, at a cost of $1.6BN, as well as for China's team at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy.
Other sponsors of the 2008 Games are; Volkswagen AG and Chinese firms Bank of China, China Mobile , China Network Communications and Air China.
It has promised to clean up its fuel, in order to meet the pre-Games anti-pollution standards.
The company will fund and provide petrochemical products and services for the 2008 Olympic Games, at a cost of $1.6BN, as well as for China's team at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy.
Other sponsors of the 2008 Games are; Volkswagen AG and Chinese firms Bank of China, China Mobile , China Network Communications and Air China.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Rumour and Speculation
There is a rumour, gathering ground, on the net that sponsorship money was syphoned off from the 2004 Olympics into the pockets of certain individuals.
It seems that the money was laundered through an organisation called Octagon. I understand that this company is now being investigated.
The Head of the Athens First Instance Courts, on Thursday, ordered a preliminary investigation into Greek press reports; citing dubious links between Octagon Worldwide Holdings BV and sponsorship deals for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Athens dailies, "Eleftherotypia" and "Avriani", allege that Octagon acted as an intermediary in sponsorship deals involving the Athens 2004 Olympics Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC).
Press reports also claimed that no firm without Octagon representation succeeded in landing a deal with ATHOC.
The case has been assigned to a prosecutor.
This will get very messy, and could well undermine the Olympics as a whole.
It seems that the money was laundered through an organisation called Octagon. I understand that this company is now being investigated.
The Head of the Athens First Instance Courts, on Thursday, ordered a preliminary investigation into Greek press reports; citing dubious links between Octagon Worldwide Holdings BV and sponsorship deals for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Athens dailies, "Eleftherotypia" and "Avriani", allege that Octagon acted as an intermediary in sponsorship deals involving the Athens 2004 Olympics Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC).
Press reports also claimed that no firm without Octagon representation succeeded in landing a deal with ATHOC.
The case has been assigned to a prosecutor.
This will get very messy, and could well undermine the Olympics as a whole.
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